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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Wedding Wednesday: Engagement Photography

I know it's the last day of the year, most bloggers are doing the cliche "Best Of" posts or their "Favorites of the Year".

I want to be that way...but guess what?

I'm just too excited about the fact that C and I just picked a date for our engagement photos, in just 24 days!
He & I are both excited (well, mostly me) to commemorate this point in our lives & all I want to do is pin ideas & put my most favorite ones here.

So can we just do one last Wedding Wednesday post for the year?

Okay? Good :)


Best Engagement Picture. EVER. 

.

Our horses being included is a must...they were such a huge part of our engagement & our lives in general, so it's only fitting.


♥


farm engagement pic <3 the stormy look to this one!

I love this as an engagement picture

Sweet embraces, they kind of make me melt.

Sunset horse couple engagement photo montage


Whenever that day comes in the future (probably a far future..) where I get engaged, I will have my horse in the picture. CONGRATS you're not only marrying me but my horse obsession as well.

Cute engagement photo with horse

I love these photos, they each remind me so much of C & I.

I can't wait until we get our photos done, I'll be sure to share them with y'all of course!

See y'all next year ;)
(Corny, I know)

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 


Monday, December 29, 2014

A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Wish

One of my most favorite things about the upcoming New Year (just 2 days left in 2014!) is getting a new planner.
There is just something about the blank pages that make me realize that anything is possible.
I'm so excited to be sharing with you my favorite planners for 2015, so here they are below!



I chose a little something that everyone will hopefully like.
There is something for every price point, the small silicone valley planner is only $10!

I personally went with the Erin Condren (although my exact planner isn't shown).
The Life Planner will be perfect for my hectic schedule with school & wedding planning, I'm sure.
I've seen so many people use their EC planners as memory books as well, so I hope to be able to do that!

The May Designs (Top Middle) has the most options for customizing [so many patterns!] & you can see all of the options for yourself before you buy.
The price isn't that bad, although your add-on's can add up if you aren't careful!

Kate Spade is classic, of course & the Target planner is a less expensive option that has a similar feel.

Y'all know I had to add some Lilly in here (which is what I would be getting if there was more room to write in them!)

Once my planner arrives I'll be doing a "How I Organize My Planner" post because I feel like they can be great tools if you actually utilize them. 


I hope y'all enjoyed this post :)

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 


Friday, December 26, 2014

Winter Survival Guide

I don't know about y'all but Winter has been tough on this Southern girl.
From the harsh wind to the freezing temps, I have been riding the struggle bus on a daily basis, well only when I actually have to leave my house, but I digress.

I thought I was going to be forced to stay inside & remain in my leggings and oversized sweatshirts until April simply for the sake of my skin...that is, until I discovered Insta Natural!

I've heard of Argan oil before, it's in my shampoo that I use.
But who knew that it actually had a million other uses?

First up in my list of life-saving products that you NEED to try this winter is the Argan Oil Hair Mask-Intensive Hair Conditioner.
This hair mask can be used as a deep-conditioner or as a regular every day conditioner...I confess, I tried it both ways & I loved it!
My hair is famously damaged, I've been flat-ironing it and putting it in ponytails for as long as I can remember.

I have basically done everything that I can do to put my hair through hell.
This product has made it so soft & shiny. The product is rich, creamy, and smells like heaven.
But the best part? It's not greasy or heavy in my hair!
I feel confident that with weekly use it will make a huge difference in my hair.

Second is that cute little blue bottle pictured above, the Vitamin C Serum.
I was excited about trying this because the bottle says that it fights aging (hey, I'll be 22 next year...I need all the help I can get!), smooths skin & reduces appearance of pores, moisturizes dry skin, & fights skin discoloration.
When I tried this, I had several dry patches of skin & my forehead was super dry too.
I was a little nervous about applying oil directly to my face, but it absorbed so quickly & didn't leave me greasy or too shiny.
I put it on just before bed & when I woke up in the morning I was re-hydrated & the dry spots of skin were gone which is something that I hadn't been able to achieve with drugstore lotion (or even my sworn by Hempz lotion!)

Last up is maybe my favorite product...the Organic Argan Oil for Hair, Face, Skin, and Nails.
I love it because it is so versatile!
 I first used it on the evening of our first family Christmas gathering to smooth down frizzy hairs, it worked without weighing down my hair or making it crunchy like some hair sprays do.
On top of that, I now regularly use it on my damp hair to smooth my dry, broken ends of my hair.
And guess what else it works on?
Nails!
Winter has this bad habit of drying out my cuticles & although I love my Sally Hansen cuticle cream, 
I wanted to see if I could achieve the same miraculous results with this oil.
I applied it before bed & the next morning, my cuticles were hydrated, smooth, and not painful at all!

And my favorite way to use this oil may seem crazy, but I love using it when I have an acne flair up.
I just smooth it on the flair up after I've cleansed my skin & by the next morning the size of the spot is reduced.

Basically these products are miracles and I don't know how to explain how thankful I am that I have found something that works as well as they do. With the wedding quickly approaching, I'm more thoughtful of my personal care routines, so these are perfect for me!

If you'd like to check them out head over to their page on Amazon.
They're having a great special, where you can get up to 15% off of your total purchase.
The company is so friendly and great to work with so you'll enjoy your experience :)

Make sure you follow them on Facebook & Twitter for more information and updates regarding all of their products!

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 


This post is sponsored by InstaNatural in conjunction with the Brandbacker Blog Network. I received a free sample of the product for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.


Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve, y'all!

I know, it's cutting it close-but I haven't gotten a chance to share any of my holiday decor yet, so I wanted to squeeze this post in between baking a buttermilk pie, wrapping presents, and getting dolled up for C's family's Christmas!

I didn't really go all out this year because I didn't want to go buy a bunch of Christmas decorations just to have them-so we kept it simple & we kept it rustic.

Let's just jump right into it, shall we?

This is a wall in our living room, we recently picked up that cedar chest at an estate sale, so it's been in here since we got it. those candles are always there. I just added the big jars with ornaments & the chalk sign was supposed to have something written on it...but I've kinda procrastinated that. Whoops.
I'm obsessed with our married monogram in the corner sitting on that basket.


Here's a close up of the monogram... 


This is probably my favorite nook in the entire living room.
We picked up this antique fainting sofa a few months ago & C's hand-carved chicken table fits perfectly beside it.
I just added a Christmas sign from target, some ornaments, and a Christmas candle from B&BW to the table.
The large pillows are from TJ Maxx and the smaller one is from Country Outfitter.
The blanket was a Christmas gift from C's step-mom & it's SO comfy & soft.


This is a terrible quality picture, but this is our entertainment center.
I have been shamelessly watching the "Fireplace" on Hulu & this is the Christmas scenes version playing on the tv.
We just have a couple of Christmas cards from our friends, some Christmas candles from B&BW, and our stockings.
The stocking holders are from Target & the stockings are from Country Outfitter.
The adorable sign is something my parents picked up from their trip to Gatlinburg for C.


This is the best shot I could get of our tree, but I am absolutely in love with it this year.
Most of the ornaments are from Sears (just balls & different shapes), but we also have our personalized ornaments that we've began a tradition of doing.
This year we also started a tradition of picking out an ornament or two for each other-he got chickens from me & he gave me a cross and a horse!
Our tree skirt is ruffled burlap (even though you can't see it here, it's adorable) & it's from Country Outfitter.


This is the closest we're getting to a full-room shot, but this one included our coffee table so I wanted to add it.
To dress our coffee table I just added two B&BW Christmas candles (Winter & Twisted Peppermint!) and a bowl from Tractor Supply with some ornaments piled in it.


It's nothing elaborate & crazy.
We don't have a running theme.
I didn't DIY a ton of stuff.
But it's us and I am so proud of it.

I love snuggling up on the couch and taking in the entire room & I'm going to be so sad when I have to undecorate it :(

Just because these boys are so cute, I wanted to include Whiskey & Bullet (they were helping me decorate the front porch)
This is how I decorated our front porch; our normal U's with burlap as our door-hangers, two trees (I'm not sure why you can't see the lights on the one on the right, I swear they're there!), and two poinsettias that I scored from Home Depot.
Bullet is just extra-cute decor.
Bullet says that all of this decorating stuff & modeling stuff is hard work.

I wish all of my followers the merriest of Christmases tomorrow, may you have a peaceful, happy day with your family & friends.

Love you all dearly!

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 



Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Treat Yo-Self


With all the stress of the holiday season, I have to say-taking a few minutes for yourself gets harder and harder, the older you get!
I feel like every minute of my day during Winter Break has been spent shopping for presents, wrapping presents, cleaning the house & catching up on chores, and baking/cooking.

But it's important to make a few minutes for yourself each day to keep your sanity...and girl, it's Treat-Yo-Self Tuesday, so today is the day!

I recently won day three of Miss Southern Prep's Third Annual "I'm Thankful For My Reader's Giveaway" which featured the shop Bella il Fiore.
I won the shower cap & manicure set and y'all, I have been so pleased with both of them!



The paisley print that the shower cap comes in is so adorable & that little rosette is so fun!
It is perfect for nights when I don't need to wash my hair but I need to shower.
I can also imagine it would be great for soaking in a bubble bath.


I wish I had thought to take a picture of the inside of this case, but the soft pink glittery outside is so cute! I don't feel embarrassed tucking this into my purse for minor nail emergencies on the road.
The tools on the inside are grey and white chevron print, so fun!
I think this would make a great stocking stuffer for the girl in your life.


How pretty are these little details?
From the shimmer of the nail case to the bright, gorgeous colors of the printed shower cap-I love it all!

It was a great giveaway to win & I'm so thankful for the opportunity to try out an amazing brand and fall in love with it!

Now if you'll excuse me, I think a warm bubble bath, a Hot Apple Toddy candle, and a glass of moscato are calling my name.

Now go treat-yo-self, girl!

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 


Saturday, December 20, 2014

The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway

Today is the first day of Winter, y'all!

It's still touch and go with the weather here in Alabama, but there is a rumor of some snow flurries for Christmas Eve, so I'm crossing my fingers for that!

The items pictured below are all things I've been crushing on for winter time.
We all need to be warm and cozy...but also cute.
Do you seem the dilemma?
These are the perfect answer.





The vests come from J.Crew Factory & Old Navy and are perfect for layering.
The puffer jacket is great for you ladies who are dealing with seriously low temps.
The buffalo check coat is stylish and warm-perfect for dressing up or dressing down.
And the accessories are all from H&M so they're not only adorable but also affordable!


Stay warm, y'all!

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 



Friday, December 19, 2014

Holiday Party Outfit Inspiration

Christmas is by far my favorite time of year & it isn't even about the presents (although presents are pretty cool!), but I really enjoy getting to spend extra time with my friends & seeing family members that I don't get to see on a regular basis.

My favorite part about this season are all of the get-togethers; I think of them as the most perfect excuse to wear my most festive clothes and get all dressed up. . .
(Ask C, I'm always the most dressy person at every single event!)

Today I wanted to give you a little bit of inspiration, because even the biggest fashionistas need some ideas every now & then!

Below, I'll be sharing four different ideas.
They are all dresses; two are for festive Christmas gatherings, one is for a more casual Christmas dinner, & then lastly is a dress that would be perfect for a New Year's Eve dinner or party!

Look Number One:

A Gift For You Dress, Red

This is the "A Gift For You" dress from The Mint Julep Boutique.
The tartan is absolutely gorgeous and so festive.
This would be perfect for a fancy family dinner or meeting your boyfriends parents for the first time over the holidays.
I suggest pairing it with these statement earrings (bonus points if you pull your hair up into a low bun!), this sweater, and these shoes.
This outfit is a winner for sure!


Look Number Two:

All The Trimmings Dress, Dark Green

This is another beauty by the Mint Julep Boutique, the "All the Trimmings" dress.
It's the flowy answer to the ever-lasting question of, "What do I wear to Christmas this year?!"
And hey, if your grandmother is going to ask you when you're getting married for the 640th time, wouldn't you at least rather be wearing this gorgeous number?
I suggest wearing long straight or curled hair & pulling it back halfway to show off these studs.
Personally, I think this outfit calls for a statement necklace as well, so how about this one?
Pair these pumps for a classic look, or go a little on the wild side with these booties.

Look Number Three:


This more casual option is from Lime Lush Boutique.
If you're just having a casual lunch with your grandparents or maybe with just your parents and siblings, I think this dress would be the perfect, comfy-yet-cute option!
You can layer it with tights or if you're brave, go-bare-legged!
This necklace, bracelet, & these earrings would be the perfect finishing touches.
Wear your hair down and loose or maybe pull it into an Elsa braid, just remember to keep it casual and fun!

Look Number Four:


Okay, I'll be the first to admit that I'm more of a "going out to dinner & out for drinks" on New Year's Eve kind of girl, not really a party girl.
But this dress is perfect if you're going to a party or out with all of your girlfriends, etc.
This is from The Flaunt Shop & it's the "Evening Getaway" dress.
It's everything a girl could want; glitter, glamour, and a very sexy back that you just have to see.
Wear it with these earrings and these booties for a look that will have everyone wishing they could be your midnight kiss.



I hope y'all enjoyed this little post that I put together, I know that it doesn't apply to everyone but someone somewhere out there needed some ideas.
I know I have a get-together this weekend that I've got to be planning for!

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 


Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Wedding Wednesday

I haven't done a Wedding Wednesday post in forever, but today I decided it might be a refreshing change from all of the Christmas posts that have been going up lately.

But never fear, I have a cocktail post going up tomorrow that should fit right in with your Christmas get-togethers & on Friday, be on the lookout for a post on what to wear to your Christmas gatherings!

For today, we're going to jump into weddings & let me inspire all of you brides-to-be. . .

Rose Gold color palette for my rose gold and morganite wedding rings and blush wedding dress perfect!
via

I love this sweet, soft color palette for a wedding, especially a Spring one. The gold and rose go together so perfectly.

beautiful floral arch | Kristyn Hogan #wedding

This wedding arch is so whimsical and dainty.
Actually, it reminds me of a garden party-which is perfect for a Spring wedding!

Country Bride, gorgeous shot

Bridal portraits are often forgotten because photography really is an expensive part of the big day.
But I think if you're putting so much effort into the dress, etc. that it is important to commemorate the bride herself.
I love this shot, it's so romantic and different than your average shot.

ring bearer and flower girl

How cute are these two little bitties?
Having your ring bearer reflect your style of wedding, rustic, etc. is a great way to keep with the theme.
I love the idea of the flower girl wearing a simple little sundress too-so light & pretty!

Buttons & Lace

This dress is everything.
Fitted, lace details, buttons, and the fluff at the bottom are all to die for.

Please. Just... sweep me off my feet. It's OUR day; I don't care if people find it silly. His face... priceless.

Just sweep me off my feet, literally.
I don't care how silly it may seem-but it's our day.
Plus, this picture is priceless.


I hope y'all enjoyed this little inspiration post.
I'm counting down the days until I get to marry my very best friend.
& this Christmas break is going to be full of getting things in-line for the wedding.
It's busy & crazy but I'm so excited & thankful that I get to plan the wedding of my dreams to the man of my dreams!

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 


Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Holiday Decor Inspiration

I have to admit, I went from being stressed out about school to completely trying to block out anything but soaking up every second of relaxation that comes with the Christmas season.

I thought for a moment that I had kind of lost my sense of creativity and direction for the blog, but fear not!

I have a plan for the direction that I see The Southern Stylista going within the next year & I can't wait to see what y'all think.
I intend on doing my first "style" post after the beginning of the year, those are just difficult for me because I grew up being unsure of what others think of me & also because it's difficult to get anyone to take decent pictures around here!
But I'm working on both of those ;)

For today, I want to share with y'all some of my favorite decorating inspiration that I have found for the holiday season.
I know we don't have many days left to enjoy the decorations (does anyone else think Christmas should last more than one month?!), but I think that y'all will enjoy the re-cap of the things that have inspired me.

decorated staircases for christmas | Southern 'n Sassy: Christmas Garland On the Stairs

I love, love, love the look of this lighted garland!
I had intended on doing something similar to our banister this year, but it just didn't happen with the way finals & decorating time collided.
But I have bookmarked it for next year (I might be able to score some lighted garland on the cheap after Christmas!)

Hand painted Lilly ornament. I have images of a Lilly tree in my head!

I am obsessed with Lilly Pulitzer & these hand-painted ornaments spoke to my heart.
Wouldn't these be so much fun on a white tree in a girly apartment or dorm room?
Or if you're a Mama, on the tree in your little girls room?
I also think it would be fun to get together with your girlfriends & paint ornaments together & have a cookie swap or something :)

Cowboy Christmas

Christmas at our house is always a rustic affair, from our burlap stockings & tree skirt to the star up top made out of sticks.
But this tree is the perfect definition of a cowboy Christmas!
Check out the rope wound throughout the tree, the bandana tied on, & the cowboy hat topper!
I am so obsessed with how fun & whimsical this tree is.
If you didn't want it in your living room, this would be a fun man-cave or little boy's room Christmas tree!

Over the fireplace decor.

Chalk art is a huge trend this year & I am obsessed with it-although no one wants to see me try to be artsy with a piece of chalk!
I love this mantle decor, the fresh greenery really brightens up the starkness of the other decor.
Plus, I love the idea of creating a chalkboard and putting it inside such a fancy frame-it's a piece you can redecorate and reuse all year long!

A Whole Bunch Of Christmas Porch Decorating Ideas - Christmas Decorating -

I love to go all-out for Christmas, but our porch decor is always on the simple side.
This year at my house, we just have two large poinsettias on our steps, two large lighted trees by the doors, & our two letter U's on the door with burlap ribbon.

But this porch is more like it.
I love the bountiful wreath, the lighted lanterns, & all the lighted garland and SNOW!
It just screams festive. :)

I hope y'all enjoyed the inspiration that I shared today.
Make sure to follow along on Pinterest: jordynreneee 
Tumblr: southernstylista.tumblr.com
and Instagram: SouthernStylista


Until next time. . .

xoxo, 


Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Christmas Playlist

Let's get something straight.
I'm not one of those people that can start playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving and last all the way until the wrapping paper is packed up after Christmas, I'm just not.

But I do love Christmas songs, just only after Thanksgiving!

So when SiriusXM turned their Prime Country channel into Country Christmas after Thanksgiving, I wasn't that upset.
& you know what? I've found some new favorites for the season :)

I wanted to share with y'all some of my favorite songs (from multiple genres!)
It came out to be seven songs...don't ask me how I came up with seven, hah!



The Duck The Halls CD (by the cast of Duck Dynasty with many special guests!) will probably forever be one of my favorite Christmas albums, simply because parts of it will make you tear up at the sweetness while other parts will have you in tears because of how funny it is!
This first song is actually a duet with Josh Turner and Missy, so it's really sweet & shares the real meaning behind Christmas :)

We've discussed how Alabama is one of my all-time favorite groups & Christmas in Dixie is my all time favorite Christmas song in the history of ever. There is just something about it that makes me feel cozy, no matter where I am. You know they say that Southern really is just a state of mind ;)

Ever since This Christmas the movie came out, it's been one of my favorites & this song might be part of the reason why. Chris Brown's vocals are great & it just makes me want to be with my family.

I got Cold December Night as a free download from Starbucks one year & then fell in love with the entire Michael Buble Christmas album. Each song is perfect, but this one is different than your average holiday song.

Wrapped in Red is a song I discovered on Country Christmas & I must confess...I'm not much of a Kelly Clarkson fan, but this song may convert me.
It is so special, especially for you ladies who need to take some risks this Christmas-check it out!

All I have to say about this version of Santa Baby is that Clare Bowen is my favorite.
I recently discovered that the cast of Nashville did a Christmas album so I'm sure after I get a chance to listen to it tonight, it will be on repeat so I'm going to go on and tell y'all to check it out (since Nashville is my favorite show ever!)

And lastly, Lady A takes Christmas songs...originally I discovered their Christmas music with their version of This Christmas (which is SO good), but this song blew me away as well.


I hope y'all enjoyed another playlist post, they seemed to have been a favorite in the past & I like doing themes ;)
If you want to see my playlist on Spotify click here and see it as it grows for the rest of the month of December!

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 



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